willpower

American  

[wil-poh-er] / ˈwɪlˌpoʊ ər /

Or will power

noun

1. control of one's impulses and actions; self-control.

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willpower British  

/ ˈwɪlˌpaʊə /

noun

1. the ability to control oneself and determine one's actions

2. firmness of will

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Etymology

Origin of willpower

First recorded in 1870–75; will ² ( def. ) + power ( def. )

Example Sentences

Stalin “possessed both an uncontrollable temper and extraordinary willpower. He was capable of bewildering recklessness and cold-blooded displays of control.”

From The Wall Street Journal

"All my energy, all my willpower was going into educating my journalists, educating the industry that the Data Protection Act needed to be taken seriously," he said.

From BBC

Featuring Serena Williams, the spot aims to dismantle the “willpower” stigma around weight loss.

From The Wall Street Journal

"We must fight to be truly free, and that can only be achieved through willpower."

From Barron's

Keeping pre-cut fruit within reach in the refrigerator or placing sweets out of sight can support long-term goals without requiring constant willpower.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• firmness
• grit
• self-control
• self-discipline